>>144214"She tipped the tea." He answers, firmly
>>144215"That is absurd," Iron pointed out, rather offended. "After all the time she spent in the shower, prettying herself up for the ocassion I am supposed to take your word she spilled tea on herself?"
The stallion planted both front hooves on the table firmly, yet not enough to break it. "I do not appreciate you badmouthing my mare so non-chalantly," he grumbled with a hint of venom in his tone.
>>144216He continues his glare at Iron, and he places his book down on the table. Sands backs away slowly
>>144212"Perhaps not that much, like I said workers generally can and should be payed more than they are without damaging the business, but they are still just as important to mine as mine workers themselves are. Without one, other would not have job."
>>144218He looks back at Silver with skepticism
>>144217"What is the matter with you?" Iron demanded, fuming by this point. "You are not going to apologize after what you did to my mare? Are you trying to rustle me up?"
>>144220He moves his body a little back in his seat, still looking at Iron. He has not stood up, at least not yet
The griffins have to be aware of the commotion, and Iron can hear them saying something to each other in their language. Then again, Iron could hear them talking to each other in their language before.
>>144221Iron is guessing that when they notice the damp Sands that had backed up a bit earlier, they're going to understand the fuss he's making right now.
"Well?" the stallion demanded with a hint of a whinny in his tone.
>>144222Sands, facing the minotaur, has her left, wet side away from the griffins.
Wordlessly, the minotaur stands up. He is much taller than Iron, and though his green shirt covers his abs and muscles, there must surely be much there.
>>144219He shrugs.
"I will admit, I am not big fan of your ideology."
>>144223How inconvenient. I'm sure Sands will explain what happened to the griffons currently doing their poker game while he's riling this bull up.
Irom stared up at the minotaur, undeterred and squinting softly yet knowing better than to just donk him right now, as it would paint him as the bad pony as well as bring the griffon entourage on him as well.
>>144224He keeps his lips closed, and remains silent
>>144225Sands disappears from Iron's peripheral vision. Well, she's sort of there, but what is in front of Iron remains more interesting, In any even the griffins don't seem to be yelling at Iron.
The Minotaur looks down at Iron, standing up. From the current position the table separates them, although moving to the left would remove that obstacle.
The Minotaur seems disinterested in arguing with Iron, or making a first move for that matter
>>144226Iron kept his squinted expression, staring back at the bull while also blocking as many escape paths out of the table as he could with his body.
"You want to go?" he dared the hired killer, ready to throw down.
>>144226"But...I would rather see who you are before making judgement about you. So far, you have seemed like nice young lad to me."
Silver smiles genuinely at his smaller, younger companion.
>>144227And now he speaks, and his voice is fairly deep, but slightly accented like that one blue pony back with the police
"Do you?"
>>144228He blinks, before giving a weak smile, and saying
"Perhaps you can still learn yourself."
>>144229He nods, still keeping that smile.
"Perhaps."
The taxi ride should be getting close to Silver's house by now.
>>144229"For my mare?" Iron replied, oozing determination. "I am ready for anything."
>>144230They arrive at the house
>>144231"Then know that she spilled the glass upon herself,
my glass, and brought it upon herself. As shall you, should you proceed further."
>>144232Iron gritted his teeth, clearly upset at the second insinuation declared by the minotaur on this day. "I am not letting you get away with besmirching my mare like that," he countered with a firmer whinny. "We will settle this outside."
>>144232Silver pays the driver his fare, exits the taxi, and holds it open for Clip.
"Well, welcome to where you will be staying, at least for moment."
>>144236"Gino! Check the alley. Make sure we are alone. Then get my case."
He says, then seems to speak to Iron directly
"I do not know why you came back here, but you shall find more than you came for."
>>144235"Woah" he says, looking up at the house
"Well fuck me, this is a nice house."
>>144237"Courtesay of Stormfeather Maakie, griffon who was running trafficking operation. We broke into his safe, and I laid claim to deed to this house. I did not think it would be this nice either at first, but I am not complaining."
>>144238"The trafficking operation back at... back at that building? That place?"
>>144239Silver nods.
"It is rather fitting that some of those we rescued are now living here, where he used to. I must say, it is far better use for this place."
>>144237Iron relaxed his pose, stepping aside to let the minotaur pass in order to get their one-on-one started.
However, that particular statement piqued the stallion's interest, yet he simply remained quiet, allowing himself to psyche himself up for a bout of fisticuffs.
>>144240"Indeed!" He says, seeming to wag his tail and run forward, as if to run around the front segment
>>144241The Minotaur calmly stands up, and walks past Iron
The griffin behind the table speaks, and in Ponish:
"Make it quick and quiet, Koptis"
"I shall" the minotaur replies
The griffin who sits off to the side has already gone through the side door, and that seems to be where the minotaur is heading
>>144242He chuckles at this honestly adorable display. To Silver, it seems as though Clip is a foal at heart.
"Just do not hurt yourself. I am going inside to tell others that you are here, you can come inside at any time."
>>144242Thanks for the reminder about his name.Iron promptly followed suit, keeping his distance so as to not cause too much friction between him and the bull, yet the comments burned into his mind like a forest fire: Was he going to use a weapon, or were his fists the weapon?
(We will have to see,) he concluded, sparing a glance at Sands' way as they treaded towards the arena.
>>144243For what it's worth, Clip doesn't look any older than adolescence, and his relatively small size doesn't help. He hops about, looking underneath the wooden stairs towards the sea.
"Uh, sure!" He says, not looking back at Silver
>>144244Sands looks scared, but she keeps her distance from the creatures, and maintains a low profile as she scurries about.
Through the open door, Iron can see that there is space between the building there and one behind it, although it should be known that the door itself exits into a side parking lot, and bthey have to move top get behind the building. There is a fairly nice automobile, with black paint and a long cabin section that is currently being driven and moved, evidently to form something of a physical barrier between the "alley" and the top of the parking lot. The alley isn't quite a true alley, with probably thirty feet of space, part of which is gravel, but the sides have grass.
Koptis takes his position, opposite Iron
>>144245Silver unlocks and then goes through the front door of the house.
>>144246Going through into the house, Silver can hear the radio playing, and he can hear Jubilosa say
"Hello?"
>>144247"I am home, Jubee!"
Silver trots forward towards her position.
>>144248She stands up (evidently she was sitting at the couch) and goes towards Silver
"Oh Silver. You're back!" She says
>>144245Iron does the same, taking a proper fighting stance as he awaited the proper time to commence the battle.
"Whenever you are ready," he called out to Koptis, steeling himself for the scuffle to come.
>>144249Silver smiles wide, steps forward, and wraps his forelegs around her in a warm embrace.
"Everything is set up for our date tonight. I even got you something for it."
>>144250Koptis carefully unbuttons his short, exposing strong muscles under rust colored fur, and placing his shirt on the automobile. He turns back to face Iron, still wearing pants and a belt that includes what seems to be a scabbard
"It is time"
Roll Initiative[1d20+3 = 18]>>144251Gasps"Really?"
Her mouth hangs partly open, and her eyes grow wide
>>144253>>144252He strikes first, with clenched fist at Iron
[1d20+8 = 20]
>>144252Silver uses his magic to levitate the box with the red silk dress out from his saddlebags, and he gives it to her.
"I hope you like it. I have another thing for you, too, but I think it is better left for after we return home."
>>144254>>144253And lands a hit with his fist
[1d3+3 = 4]>>144255Her beak hangs all the way open, as her eyes twinkle
"It's so PRETTY!"
She quickly grabs the dress
>>144256Silver smiles as if he was happier now than he has been in the longest time.
"Seeing you react like this makes every Bit spent worth it."
He also levitates out the white fur coat he bought to go with it.
>>144256Iron flinched slightly at the successful jab, yet he couldn't help but grin slightly: This was going to be a tough battle, and he couldn't be happier to be in his element.
Iron winded up a hook against the minotaur's side with a bit of extra oomph into it.
[1d20+7 = 10]<Unarmed attack (-3 to hit, +3 to damage)
>>144258Iron's buck is a bit reckless and imprecise, and the minotaur moves to dodge it.
He punches back
[1d20+8 = 20]>>144257"Eeeeek"
She examines the white fur coat
"Is this from Skyfall?"
>>144259>>144258And evidently hits again, in much the same way
[1d3+3 = 5]
>>144259"I do not know, I found fancy clothing store here in Baltimare that sold all kinds of dresses. It was expensive, but you are more than worth every Bit that silk dress and fur coat cost me."
>>144259>>144260Once again, Iron was bonked, causing him to soon grit his teeth. This guy was serious, and he's running out of time to properly dish out some bruises.
He tried a far more powerful buck against the minotaur's stomach, hoping to even the odds as they are right now.
[1d20+5 = 20]<Unarmed strike (-5 to hit, +5 damage. Non-lethal)